JP7477562B2 - Each machine and method for managing the number of gaming media - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to each machine device that is installed in association with a gaming machine that uses gaming media enclosed therein to play games, and that performs processing related to the gaming media, and a method for managing the number of gaming media.

Conventionally, gaming establishments offer games that involve gaming media. For example, in pachinko games, gaming balls are used as gaming media, and the game is played by shooting the gaming balls into the gaming board. The gaming board is provided with a number of winning areas (winning holes), and a predetermined number of gaming balls are awarded as prize balls based on the passing of the gaming balls through the winning areas. In this way, the number of gaming media increases or decreases depending on the result of the game, and the player can exchange the acquired gaming media for prizes.

To simplify the handling of acquired gaming media, each machine attached to the gaming machine is provided with a function for counting gaming media, and the counted number of gaming media is associated with a card as the number of owned gaming media. By presenting this card at a prize counter, a player can exchange it for a prize according to the associated number of owned gaming media.

Here, there is a desire to set the number of owned gaming media associated with a card to a desired value. For example, such a desire arises when a player wants to keep the number of owned gaming media required to exchange for a desired prize and use up the remainder through gaming, or when a player wants to manage the results of their own gaming. For this reason, each machine device disclosed in Patent Document 1 compares the number of owned gaming media with a target value and notifies the player. Specifically, if the number of owned gaming media exceeds the target value, a notification is issued to encourage the player to pay out the owned gaming media, if the number of owned gaming media is less than the target value, a notification is issued to encourage the player to count, and if the number of owned gaming media matches the target value, a notification is issued to that effect.

In addition, as problems with balls brought in from other stores and between stores with different lending rates have recently become apparent, attention has been focused on sealed gaming machines that do not generate such brought-in balls.Sealed gaming machines are designed so that players do not touch the gaming media, and the number of gaming media that can be fired (hereinafter referred to as the playable number) is managed as data (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Each machine attached to such an enclosed gaming machine does not control its own device or the gaming machine to pay out actual gaming media, but instead transmits the number of gaming media to the gaming machine as data. Furthermore, when a game ends, each machine obtains the number of playable units from the gaming machine and adds it to the number of gaming media it possesses. The operation of each machine obtaining the number of playable units from the gaming machine and adding it to the number of gaming media it possesses corresponds to the operation of counting gaming media, and is therefore referred to as the counting operation in this specification.

JP 2017-093933 A JP 2002-233635 A

However, the conventional technology represented by the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 has a problem in that the operation for a player to adjust the number of held gaming media to the desired value is complicated. Specifically, in the conventional technology, when the number of held gaming media exceeds a target value, it is necessary to adjust the number of held gaming media to the target value by repeating the held ball replay operation to pay out a predetermined number of held gaming media. Also, since there is a limit to the number of gaming media that can be held in the upper tray of the gaming machine, depending on the difference between the number of held gaming media and the target value, it is not possible to pay out enough held gaming media, and a situation has arisen in which the number of held gaming media cannot be adjusted to the target value.

For these reasons, an important issue was how to easily adjust the number of gaming media held to the player's desired value.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a machine device and a method for managing the number of gaming media that can adjust the number of gaming media held to the value desired by the player with simple operations.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides a machine device that is installed in correspondence with a gaming machine that uses gaming media enclosed therein to play games and that performs processing related to the gaming media , and is characterized in that it comprises: a number of held gaming media memory unit that stores the number of gaming media acquired by a player through play as the number of held gaming media; a target value setting unit that sets a target value for the number of held gaming media; a first transition processing unit that transitions a predetermined number of held gaming media out of the number of held gaming media stored in the number of held gaming media memory unit to the number of gaming machine managed media when the target value is not set or when the number of gaming machine managed media stored in the gaming machine falls below a predetermined value; and a second transition processing unit that transitions a number of held gaming media equal to the difference between the number of held gaming media and the target value to the number of gaming machine managed media when the target value is set and the number of held gaming media stored in the number of held gaming media memory unit exceeds the target value without replaying the number of held gaming media.

In addition, in the above invention, the second transition processing unit is characterized in that, when the number of held gaming media exceeds the target value as a result of the counting process of transitioning the number of gaming machine managed media to the number of held gaming media, the second transition processing unit transitions the number of held gaming media that is the difference between the number of held gaming media and the target value to the number of gaming machine managed media.

In addition, in the above invention, the second transition processing unit waits until counting processing is performed when the number of held gaming media stored in the held gaming media number memory unit does not reach the target value.

In addition, in the above invention, the second transition processing unit executes a notification to prompt the counting process when the number of held gaming media stored in the held gaming media number storage unit does not reach the target value.

The present invention is also characterized in that, in the above invention, the second transition processing unit cancels the setting of the target value when a specified release operation is received or when the number of held gaming media is associated with a specified storage medium and ejected.

In the above invention, the second transition means cancels the setting of the target value when the number of held gaming media stored in the held gaming media number storage unit matches the target value.

The present invention also provides a method for managing the number of game media by each machine device that is installed in association with a gaming machine in which a game is played using a game medium enclosed therein and that performs processing related to the game media , the method comprising: a number of held game media storage step of storing the number of game media acquired by a player through play in a number of held game media memory unit as the number of held game media; a target value setting step of setting a target value for the number of held game media ; and a transfer processing step of transferring a predetermined number of held game media out of the number of held game media stored in the number of held game media memory unit to the number of game machine managed media when the target value is not set or when the number of game machine managed media stored in the gaming machine falls below a predetermined value, and transferring a number of held game media equal to the difference between the number of held game media and the target value to the number of game machine managed media when the target value is set and if the number of held game media stored in the number of held game media memory unit exceeds the target value, without replaying the number of held game media.

According to the present invention, the number of gaming media held can be adjusted to the desired value by a simple operation.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of each stand device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the system configuration of an amusement arcade. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the external appearance of the inter-machine card processor and the gaming machine. FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the inter-machine card processor and the gaming machine shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of data stored in the memory unit of the inter-machine card processing machine. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the exact ball holding mode by the machine-to-machine card processing machine. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of the operation of the exact ball holding mode. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the adjustment of stored balls and automatic payout.

Below, a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of each machine device and a method for managing the number of game media according to the present invention will be given with reference to the attached drawings.

In this specification, retained balls refer to data indicating game media or the number of game media acquired by a player in a game, which can be used again for play only on that day (before closing time). Saved balls refer to data indicating game media or the number of game media acquired by a player in a game, which can be used again for play on the following day (after closing time). Retained balls can be used by both general players and member players, and are used when the gaming machine used for play is changed (so-called machine transfer). Saved balls are usually only available to member players, and are used when acquired game media are used for play on the following day or later. A specified fee may be charged for the use of saved balls.

First, the concept of each machine device according to this embodiment will be explained. FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the concept of each machine device according to this embodiment. A gaming establishment is equipped with multiple gaming machines 20, and each gaming machine 20 is equipped with an inter-machine card processing machine 10, which is a machine device.

The gaming machine 20 is an enclosed gaming machine that is designed so that players cannot touch the gaming balls, which are the gaming medium, and the number of gaming balls that can be launched is managed as the number of available balls. A large number of obstacle nails are set on the gaming board of the gaming machine 20, and gaming balls launched onto the gaming board by operating the handle fall between the obstacle nails and either win a prize hole or a start hole, or are ejected from the gaming board through an outlet hole on the gaming board without winning. The gaming balls ejected from the gaming board are transported inside the gaming machine 20 and are used for launching again.

The inter-machine card processing machine 10 is a machine that performs processes such as accepting deposits and lending game balls. Game balls are not paid out in physical form, but rather are lent out by adding to the number of playable balls of the gaming machine 20. Similarly, when a player performs an operation to replay held balls, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 subtracts a predetermined number of held balls and adds a predetermined number to the number of playable balls. The inter-machine card processing machine 10 can also count game balls by transferring the number of playable balls managed by the gaming machine 20 to the held balls managed by the machine itself.

Furthermore, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 can set a target number of balls held, and if the number of balls held exceeds the target number, the excess number of balls held can be transferred to the playable number. In FIG. 1, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 sets the target number of balls held to "500" by the player's operation (S1). If the number of balls held at this time is "2000", the inter-machine card processing machine 10 transfers the excess number of "1500" to the playable number of the gaming machine 20 (S2), and adjusts the number of balls held by the inter-machine card processing machine 10 to the target value of "500".

In this way, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 is installed in correspondence with the enclosed gaming machine 20, stores the game balls that the player has acquired through play as held balls, sets a target value for the held balls, and if the held balls exceed the target value, the excess held balls can be transferred to the number of playable balls of the gaming machine 20. Therefore, the player can adjust the held balls to the desired value simply by setting the desired target value.

Next, the system configuration of an amusement store will be explained. Figure 2 is a diagram showing the system configuration of an amusement store. As shown in Figure 2, amusement stores are equipped with multiple gaming machines 20 and inter-machine card processing machines 10 provided corresponding to each gaming machine 20. The inter-machine card processing machines 10 are connected to a communication line, which is a network within the store, via an island controller 30. The island controller 30, card management device 40, member management device 50, prize management device 60, and settlement machine 80 are connected to the communication line.

The gaming machine 20 is a device in which game balls enclosed inside the device are shot onto the game board to play. The game board of this gaming machine 20 is provided with multiple winning areas (winning holes), and a predetermined number of game balls are awarded as prize balls based on the passing of a game ball through the winning area. In addition, the game board is provided with a predetermined number of starting areas (starting holes), and a predetermined lottery is held based on the passing of a game ball through the starting area. If the lottery results in a jackpot, a predetermined movable member or the like is operated to increase the probability of the game ball passing through the winning area or another starting area, thereby providing an advantage in the game. It is also possible to provide an area that serves as both a starting area and a winning area.

The winning areas are provided with winning sensors for detecting the passage of game balls into the winning areas, and the winning sensors detect the passage (winning) of game balls that have been shot into the winning areas. The control unit of the gaming machine 20 also has a prize ball memory that stores the number of game balls to be awarded as prize balls for each winning area, and a playable number memory that indicates the number of balls that a player can throw out.

Therefore, when the winning sensor detects the passage of a game ball into a specific winning area, the gaming machine 20 can determine the number of prize balls to be awarded based on the contents stored in the prize ball memory and the number of game balls that have passed through the winning area, and perform a payout process for the determined number of prize balls.

In the enclosed gaming machine 20, the payout process of the number of prize balls is performed by adding the number of prize balls to the playable number stored in the playable number memory and updating the stored contents. When the playable number is to be transferred as the number of balls held by the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the playable number held in the playable number memory is notified to the inter-machine card processing machine 10, and the playable number is cleared to zero. Furthermore, when a notification is received from the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that the playable number has been added by a ball lending operation or the like, the notified number of balls is added to the playable number and the stored contents are updated.

The inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts deposits, lends game balls, communicates with the card management device 40, and communicates with the gaming machines 20. When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts a bill inserted by a player, it transmits deposit notification data including the amount of the bill to the card management device 40, and adds a number corresponding to the amount to the prepaid value managed by the card management device 40. Then, when a specified ball lending operation is performed, it transmits a ball lending request to the card management device 40, subtracts the prepaid value managed by the card management device 40, and performs a payout process of the number of game balls corresponding to the subtracted prepaid value.

In an enclosed gaming machine 20, the payout process of gaming balls based on ball lending is performed by notifying the gaming machine 20 of the number corresponding to the subtracted prepaid value and adding it to the number of available balls.

When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts the insertion of a card, it sends card insertion notification data to the card management device 40. When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives data including the prepaid value, number of held balls, and number of saved balls from the card management device 40, it stores the received prepaid value, number of held balls, and number of saved balls. Then, once the number of held balls has been stored, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 clears the number of held balls managed by the card management device 40 to zero by sending held ball subtraction request data to the card management device 40.

When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives a held ball replay operation, it subtracts a predetermined number from the number of held balls stored in its own device, and performs a payout process of the number of game balls corresponding to the subtracted number of held balls. When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives a saved ball replay operation, it sends saved ball replay request data to the card management device 40, thereby subtracting a predetermined number from the number of saved balls managed by the member management device 50, and performs a payout process of the number of game balls corresponding to the subtracted saved ball number. The payout process of game balls based on held ball replay and saved ball replay is also performed by notifying the gaming machine 20 of the corresponding number and adding it to the number of playable balls.

When the inter-machine card processing device 10 receives a card return operation, it transmits held ball addition request data, including the number of held balls managed by the device, to the card management device 40, and after having the card management device 40 add the number of held balls, it transmits card ejection notification data to the card management device 40 and controls the ejection of the card. Note that it is preferable that the card ejection control be performed on the condition that the number of playable balls of the gaming machine 20 is zero.

The inter-machine card processing device 10 also has the function of acquiring a gaming machine ID from the gaming machine 20 and authenticating the gaming machine 20 using the acquired gaming machine ID and an authentication key received from the card management device 40. This authentication is performed during the opening process, etc., and the gaming machine 20 becomes available for play if the authentication is successful.

The island controller 30 is a relay device that ties together a group of gaming machines 20 and inter-machine card processing machines 10 installed on the gaming island.

The card management device 40 is a device that manages the prepaid value and number of balls held of the card as card data. When the card management device 40 receives card insertion notification data from the inter-machine card processing device 10, it manages the card ID of the inserted card in association with the device ID of the inter-machine card processing device 10, and transmits the prepaid value and number of balls associated with the card ID to the inter-machine card processing device 10. Furthermore, if the card ID indicated in the card insertion notification data is the card ID of a member card, the card management device 40 transmits the card insertion notification data to the member management device 50, and transmits the saved ball replay data received from the member management device 50 to the inter-machine card processing device 10.

When the card management device 40 receives held ball subtraction request data from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, it clears the number of held balls to zero. When the card management device 40 receives held ball addition request data from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, it adds the held ball number included in the held ball addition request data to the held ball number managed by the card management device 40.

When the card management device 40 receives ball loan request data from the machine-to-machine card processing device 10, it subtracts a predetermined value from the prepaid value associated with the card ID and transmits ball loan permission data to the machine-to-machine card processing device 10. When the card management device 40 receives saved ball replay request data, it transmits the saved ball replay request data to the member management device 50, and when the member management device 50 outputs saved ball replay data, it transmits the saved ball replay data to the machine-to-machine card processing device 10.

When the card management device 40 receives a card ID from the prize management device 60, it notifies the prize management device 60 of the number of balls held that is associated with this card ID. Furthermore, when the card management device 40 receives a card ID from the settlement machine 80, it notifies the settlement machine 80 of the prepaid value that is associated with this card ID.

The card management device 40 also obtains gaming machine IDs from the inter-machine card processing device 10 and manages the gaming machines 20 installed in its own arcade. It also obtains authentication keys for authenticating the gaming machines 20 set up in its own arcade from an authentication key management center outside the arcade and distributes them to the inter-machine card processing device 10.

The member management device 50 is a management device that manages the member management data of members who are registered with the gaming establishment. Specifically, it manages the number of balls, points, PIN number, name, etc., associated with the member card ID issued to the member.

When the member management device 50 receives card insertion notification data from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, it transmits stored ball replay data including the number of stored balls and the PIN number associated with the card ID indicated in the card insertion notification data to the inter-machine card processing machine 10. When the member management device 50 receives stored ball replay request data from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, it subtracts a predetermined number from the number of stored balls associated with the card ID indicated in the stored ball replay request data, and transmits stored ball replay data including the number of stored balls after subtraction to the inter-machine card processing machine 10. Note that communication between the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and the member management device 50 is performed via the card management device 40.

In addition, when the member management device 50 receives an inquiry about the number of balls stored from the prize management device 60, it notifies the prize management device 60 of the number of balls stored corresponding to the specified card ID.

The prize management device 60 is a terminal device for prize exchange that is attached to the prize exchange counter in the gaming facility, and performs the prize exchange process of exchanging acquired balls, number of saved balls, and number of held balls for prizes. A card reader that reads the card ID from the card, and a prize payout device that pays out prizes are connected to this prize management device 60. When the prize management device 60 reads the card ID from a general card or a member card (or when it reads identification data corresponding to the card ID from a mobile terminal, etc.), it sends the card ID to the card management device 40 and requests the number of held balls for that card ID. In addition, when the number of saved balls is to be exchanged for a prize, it requests the number of saved balls from the member management device 50.

When a card associated with a prepaid value is inserted, the settlement machine 80 transmits the card ID of the card to the card management device 40 and receives the response data, thereby obtaining the prepaid value associated with the card and dispensing money according to the obtained prepaid value.

Next, the ball lending process of the gaming system shown in Figure 2 will be explained. When a player performs a ball lending operation on the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 transmits ball lending request data to the card management device 40. This ball lending request data includes the card ID of the card inserted in the inter-machine card processing machine 10, and an address or any identification data that identifies the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that is the sender.

When the card management device 40 receives the ball lending request data, it subtracts a predetermined value from the prepaid value associated with the card ID in the ball lending request data. The card management device 40 then transmits the ball lending permission data to the inter-machine card processing device 10 that sent the data. The inter-machine card processing device 10 that has received the ball lending permission data performs a payout process for the number of game balls that corresponds to the subtracted prepaid value.

Next, the held ball replay process when holding balls are replayed in the gaming system shown in Figure 2 will be explained. When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts the insertion of a general card or a membership card, it transmits card insertion notification data to the card management device 40. This card insertion notification data includes the card ID of the card inserted into the inter-machine card processing machine 10, an address or any identification data that identifies the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that is the sender, and data for identifying the rate of the inter-machine card processing machine 10.

When the card management device 40 receives card insertion notification data from the inter-machine card processing device 10, it notifies the inter-machine card processing device 10 of the number of balls held for each rate associated with the card ID in the card insertion notification data.

The inter-machine card processing machine 10 stores the number of held balls received from the card management device 40. Then, it transmits to the card management device 40 the card ID, data specifying the rate, and held ball subtraction request data indicating that the number of held balls is to be cleared to zero. When the card management device 40 receives the held ball subtraction request data, it clears the number of held balls for each rate specified by the card ID to zero. When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts a held ball replay operation and performs a held ball replay, it subtracts a predetermined number from the stored held ball number and performs a payout process for the corresponding number of game balls. Here, when there is a held ball number other than the rate of the machine, and the setting is set to allow the held ball replay using the held ball number other than the rate of the machine, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 can convert the held ball number other than the rate of the machine into the held ball number of the rate of the machine according to the operation of the player and perform the held ball replay. Here, if the unit price per game medium of the other rate is A and the unit price of the machine's rate is B, then the number of balls held of the other rate can be subtracted to perform a payout process of X x (A/B).

When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 receives management transfer request data from the gaming machine 20 to transfer its management by making the playable number of the gaming machine 20 the balls held by the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 adds the playable number indicated in the management transfer request data to the number of balls held by its own machine. After that, when a card return operation is accepted, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 transmits held ball addition request data to the card management device 40. This held ball addition request data includes the card ID of the card to be returned, an address or any identification data that identifies the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that sent it, and the number of held balls for each rate.

When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts the card return operation, it transmits held ball addition request data to the card management device 40. This held ball addition request data includes the card ID of the card to be returned, an address or any identification data that identifies the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that sent the data, and the number of held balls for each rate.

When the card management device 40 receives the ball addition request data, it adds the number of balls contained in the ball addition request data to the number of balls for each rate associated with the card ID. After that, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 sends card ejection notification data to the card management device 40.

Next, the stored ball replay process in the gaming system shown in Figure 2 will be explained. When the inter-machine card processing machine 10 reads the card ID from a membership card or a mobile terminal that can be used as a membership card, it transmits card insertion notification data to the card management device 40. This card insertion notification data includes the card ID of the card inserted into the inter-machine card processing machine 10, an address or any identification data that identifies the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that is the sender, and data for identifying the rate of the inter-machine card processing machine 10.

The card management device 40 transmits the card insertion notification data received from the machine-to-machine card processing device 10 to the member management device 50. When the member management device 50 receives the card insertion notification data, it transmits stored ball replay data to the machine-to-machine card processing device 10, including the PIN associated with the card ID in the card insertion notification data, the number of stored balls at the rate specified by the card insertion notification data, and the possible number of stored ball replays. The possible number of stored ball replays indicates the number of times a stored ball replay can be performed, and is equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the number of stored balls by the number of game ball payout units in a stored ball replay. However, if an upper limit is set for stored ball replays, the possible number of stored ball replays will be limited by this upper limit.

The inter-machine card processing device 10 stores the received saved ball replay data, and if the number of saved ball replays possible indicated in the saved ball replay data is 1 or more, it becomes capable of accepting a saved ball replay operation.

When the inter-machine card processing device 10 receives the first saved ball replay operation after storing the saved ball replay data, it asks the player to input a PIN number and determines whether the input PIN number matches the PIN number shown in the saved ball replay data.

If the PIN numbers match, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 transmits saved ball replay request data to the card management device 40. This saved ball replay request data includes the card ID of the card inserted into the inter-machine card processing machine 10, an address or any identification data that identifies the inter-machine card processing machine 10 that sent the data, and data for identifying the rate of the inter-machine card processing machine 10.

The card management device 40 transmits the saved ball replay request data to the member management device 50. When the member management device 50 receives the saved ball replay request data, it subtracts a predetermined value from the balance of saved balls at the rate specified by the message among the saved balls associated with the card ID in the saved ball replay request data, and recalculates the number of saved balls that can be replayed. It then transmits saved ball replay data including the balance after subtraction and the number of saved balls that can be replayed to the machine-to-machine card processing device 10.

The inter-machine card processing machine 10 updates the number of stored balls stored and performs a payout process for the number of game balls equal to the payout unit number of the stored ball replay. Here, when there are stored balls other than the rate of the machine, and the setting is set to allow the stored ball replay using the stored balls other than the rate of the machine, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 can convert the stored balls other than the rate of the machine into the number of stored balls of the rate of the machine according to the operation of the player, as in the case of the held ball replay. In addition, after the payout process, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 determines whether the number of possible stored ball replays after the update is 1 or more. If the number of possible stored ball replays is 0, the stored ball replay operation cannot be accepted. If the number of possible stored ball replays after the update is 1 or more, the stored ball replay operation can be accepted again. For the second and subsequent stored ball replays, the PIN does not need to be confirmed. Note that the PIN may be confirmed every time. In addition, the member management device 50 subtracts the remaining balance of the saved balls, and then the machine-to-machine card processing device 10 performs the payout process of the game balls, but the remaining balance of the saved balls may be subtracted after the payout process of the game balls is performed based on a saved ball replay request. This is because the saved ball replay data before the saved ball replay request indicates the number of saved balls that can be replayed, and a situation in which an insufficient balance is found after the saved ball replay request is accepted does not occur.

Next, the transition from held balls to saved balls during the store closing process will be explained. The card management device 40 checks the number of held balls in the card management data during store closing process, and if a record exists that is associated with a number of held balls greater than zero, it notifies the member management device 50 of the number of held balls in that record along with the card ID and rate. The member management device 50 adds the number of held balls notified by the card management device 40 to the number of saved balls specified by the card ID and rate. The card management device 40 then clears the number of held balls to zero.

Next, the external appearance of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20 shown in Figure 2 will be described. Figure 3 is a diagram showing the external appearance of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20. Also, while Figure 3 shows an inter-machine card processing machine 10 that only accepts paper money, a unit for accepting coins can also be provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 has a status display unit 11, a bill insertion slot 12a, a display operation unit 13, a display operation unit 22, a card insertion slot 14a, and a card-swiping unit 14b.

The status display unit 11 displays the status of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 by turning on or blinking a lamp of a specified color. The bill insertion slot 12a is an insertion slot for various bills required for lending game balls. The display operation unit 13 is a device that displays operation buttons such as a touch panel type liquid crystal display and accepts input operations via the operation buttons.

The card insertion slot 14a is an insertion slot for cards held by the player. The holding section 14b is a section where the mobile terminal used for membership registration is held. When the mobile terminal is held over the holding section 14b, data such as the mobile terminal's unique ID (e.g. IDm) is read from the mobile terminal.

The display operation unit 22 is a display device such as a touch panel display, and although it is located on the front side of the gaming machine 20, its input and output are controlled by the inter-machine card processing device 10. The display operation unit 22 is used to display various information such as the remaining balls held, and to accept various operations such as display switching operations.

The gaming machine 20 is provided with a gaming board, a handle 21 that is used to throw enclosed gaming balls onto the gaming board, and a counting button 23.

The count button 23 is an operation button for transferring management of the number of balls that can be dispensed from the gaming machine 20 to the inter-machine card processing machine 10 by subtracting the number of playable balls of the gaming machine 20 and adding the corresponding number to the balls held by the inter-machine card processing machine 10. In an open gaming machine in which actual game balls are dispensed upon winning, this management transfer corresponds to a counting process in which the inter-machine card processing machine 10 counts the dispensed game balls and adds them to the balls held.

Next, the configuration of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20 shown in Figure 2 will be described. Figure 4 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20 shown in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 4, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 has a banknote transport unit 12, a display operation unit 13, a reader/writer 14, a swiping unit 14b, a communication unit 15, a game management unit 18, a memory unit 16, a control unit 17, and a display operation unit 22.

The bill transport unit 12 is a transport unit that transports bills inserted through the bill insertion slot 12a to a bill storage unit (not shown) while determining the denomination and authenticity of the bills. The display operation unit 13 is an input/output device such as a touch panel type liquid crystal display that displays various information such as the prepaid value, number of balls held, and number of stored balls that can be used for ball lending, and accepts various operations such as ball lending operations.

The reader/writer 14 is a device that reads the card ID from the card inserted into the card insertion slot 14a. The card inserted into the card insertion slot 14a is stored in a card storage section (not shown) through the reader/writer 14. The holding section 14b is an interface section that reads various information such as the unique ID (e.g., IDm) of the mobile terminal by short-range wireless communication when a mobile terminal or the like is held over it, and is used for replaying the number of balls associated with the mobile terminal held by the player. The reader/writer 14 also has a function of associating a negotiable value such as the balls held and prepaid value shown in the card data 16b with the card stored in the card storage section in response to the return operation of the player, and issuing it as a new card. However, if the prepaid value shown in the card data 16b is 0 and the number of balls held is less than a certain number, the card is controlled not to be returned even if a return operation is performed. This is a control to prevent losses to the gaming establishment caused by the discarding of a card associated with a small number of balls held. The fixed number can be set, for example, so that the value of the card or the lowest priced prize in the amusement store is the number of balls held multiplied by the rental price per ball, but it can be freely set according to the policy of the amusement store. Also, when controlling so that the card is not returned even if a return operation is performed, the stored number of balls held can be sent to the gaming machine 20 as the number of playable balls, or a message can be displayed to inform the player that the card cannot be returned and to encourage the player to replay the held balls.

The communication unit 15 is an interface unit for performing data communication with the card management device 40 etc. via the island controller 30.

The memory unit 16 is a storage device consisting of a hard disk drive, non-volatile memory, etc. The memory unit 16 stores the device status data 16a, card data 16b, and target value data 16c.

The own device status data 16a is data indicating the status of the inter-machine card processing machine 10. This own device status data 16a includes the device ID of the inter-machine card processing machine and game settings. The device ID of the inter-machine card processing machine is identification data for uniquely identifying the inter-machine card processing machine 10 within the game establishment. The game settings are data indicating the game types and the like set in the inter-machine card processing machine 10. When game balls of multiple rates are handled within the game establishment, game type names are set and managed for each rate, such as "Ball 1" for game balls with a 4 yen rate, "Ball 2" for game balls with a 2 yen rate, "Ball 3" for game balls with a 1 yen rate, and "Ball 4" for game balls with a 0.5 yen rate. The inter-machine card processing machine 10 selects the rate to be used for the game from these game types and stores it as the game settings.

Card data 16b is data related to the card being used by the player. Card data 16b includes the card ID, prepaid value, held balls, saved balls, and the number of saved balls that can be replayed. The card ID is the card ID read by the reader/writer 14. When a card is transported from a card storage section (not shown) to the card insertion port 14a and then ejected, card data 16b is updated by the card ID read by the reader/writer 14 during this transport. Also, when a card is transported from the card insertion port 14a to a card storage section (not shown), card data 16b is updated by the card ID read by the reader/writer 14 during this transport. Target value data 16c indicates the value specified by the player for the target value of held balls.

The gaming management unit 18 is a processing unit that performs processing related to authentication and communication with the gaming machine 20. It is preferable that the gaming management unit 18 is formed on a different board from the control unit 17. The gaming management unit 18 has an authentication processing unit 18a, an authentication key management unit 18b, and a gaming machine status management unit 18c.

The authentication processing unit 18a uses the authentication key received from the card management device 40 to authenticate the gaming machine 20. If the authentication is successful, the authentication processing unit 18a transmits operation permission to the gaming machine 20. Even if the authentication fails, the authentication processing unit 18a transmits operation permission to the gaming machine 20 if it is within a predetermined period of time since the last successful authentication, but does not transmit operation permission to the gaming machine 20 after the predetermined period has elapsed since the last successful authentication, and prohibits the use of the gaming machine 20. The authentication processing unit 18a transmits the results of the authentication, such as the success or failure of the authentication, to the card management device 40, and appropriately controls the display operation unit 13 to display the results.

The authentication key management unit 18b is a processing unit that manages the authentication key. A usage time is set for the authentication key, and when the cumulative operating time of the gaming machine 20 reaches the usage time of the authentication key, the authentication key becomes unusable. Specifically, the authentication key management unit 18b uses the power-on time of the board on which the game management unit 18 is formed as the operating time of the gaming machine 20 to manage the usage time of the authentication key. When the authentication key becomes unusable, the authentication key management unit 18b obtains a new authentication key from the authentication key management center via the card management device 40 and updates the authentication key.

The gaming machine status management unit 18c is a processing unit that communicates with the gaming machine 20 and manages the status of the gaming machine 20. Specifically, the gaming machine status management unit 18c acquires the gaming machine ID from the gaming machine 20, transmits a request to add to the playable number by ball lending, transmits a request to transfer management from the held balls to the playable number by replaying the held balls, transmits a request to add to the playable number by replaying the saved balls, receives game results such as the number of balls inserted and the number of winning balls in the gaming machine 20, and receives a request to transfer management from the playable number to the held balls by counting. In addition, the gaming machine status management unit 18c periodically acquires the playable number of the gaming machine 20 as a reference value. The playable number acquired by the gaming machine status management unit 18c can be displayed and controlled on the display operation unit 13, etc. Note that the communication between the machine-to-machine card processing machine 10 and the gaming machine 20 may be encrypted communication using a predetermined encryption method.

The gaming machine status management unit 18c may further acquire the current number of available games on the gaming machine 20, the status set for the game such as "jackpot", and the operation status of the handle 21. It is desirable to set the time interval at which the gaming machine status management unit 18c acquires the status of the gaming machine 20 to be shorter than the interval at which game balls are shot (used) on the gaming machine 20.

The control unit 17 is a control unit that controls the entire inter-machine card processing machine 10, and has a data management unit 17a, a game setting processing unit 17b, a target value setting unit 17c, and a ball holding adjustment unit 17d.

When a card is inserted, the data management unit 17a transmits card insertion notification data including the device ID of the device status data 16a and the card ID of the card data 16b to the card management device 40. When the data management unit 17a receives data including a value (at least one of a prepaid value, the number of held balls, and the number of saved balls) from the card management device 40, it updates the card data 16b with the received value. The data management unit 17a appropriately controls the display of the prepaid value, the number of held balls, and the number of saved balls indicated in the card data 16b on the display operation unit 13.

When a bill is inserted into the bill insertion slot 12a, the data management unit 17a transmits deposit notification data, including the amount of the inserted bill, the card ID, and the inter-machine card processing machine ID, to the card management device 40.

When a ball lending operation is performed by a player, the data management unit 17a transmits ball lending request data including the card ID and device ID to the card management device 40. If ball lending permission data is received in response to the ball lending request data, the data management unit 17a performs a payout process by instructing the game management unit 18 to add a predetermined number of balls to the number of balls available for play on the gaming machine 20.

In addition, when a player performs an operation to replay held balls, the data management unit 17a performs a payout process by instructing the game management unit 18 to subtract a predetermined number from the number of held balls indicated in the card data 16b and add the corresponding number of balls to the number of balls available to play on the gaming machine 20.

When the number of possible saved ball replays indicated in the card data 16b is 1 or more, the data management unit 17a displays a saved ball replay button on the display operation unit 13, and allows the saved ball replay operation to be accepted. When a saved ball replay operation is performed by a player, the data management unit 17a transmits saved ball replay request data including the card ID and the machine-to-machine card processing machine ID to the member management device 50. When saved ball replay data is received as a response to this saved ball replay request data, the number of saved balls in the card data 16b is updated, and the payout process is performed by instructing the game management unit 18 to add the payout unit number of saved ball replay to the number of playable balls of the gaming machine 20. When the first saved ball replay operation is performed, the input of a PIN is requested, and the saved ball replay request data is transmitted on the condition that it matches the PIN indicated in the card data 16b.

In addition, when the game management unit 18 receives a request to transfer game balls from the gaming machine 20, the data management unit 17a adds the number of balls instructed by the game management unit 18 to the held balls in the card data 16b to update it.

In addition, when a player performs a card return operation, the data management unit 17a sends held ball addition request data, including the card ID, device ID, and number of held balls, to the card management device 40, clears the number of held balls in the card data 16b to zero, and then sends card ejection notification data to the card management device 40 and ejects the card.

The game setting processing unit 17b displays the rate corresponding to the current game type set in the game setting of the machine status data 16a on the display operation unit 13 or the display operation unit 22, and if the setting is set to accept the selection of the rate by the player, displays the selectable rates on the display operation unit 13 or the display operation unit 22. When the player selects the desired rate, the game setting processing unit 17b updates the game setting of the machine status data 16a with the game type corresponding to the selected rate. On the other hand, if the setting is not set to accept the selection of the rate by the player, the selectable rates are not displayed during play. In this case, the selectable rates are displayed on the condition that the employee's remote control operation or the like is accepted and authentication is performed. When the employee selects a rate, the game setting processing unit 17b updates the game setting of the machine status data 16a with the game type corresponding to the selected rate. In addition, in this case, if a signal instructing the selection of a game type is received from a higher-level device such as the card management device 40, the game setting of the machine status data 16a is updated with the instructed game type without displaying the selectable rates.

The target value setting unit 17c is a processing unit that sets the target value of the held balls. Specifically, the target value setting unit 17c accepts an input specifying the target value of the held balls via the display operation unit 13 or the like, and stores the accepted target value in the memory unit 16 as target value data 16c.

The input specifying the target value may be an arbitrary numerical value input using number buttons or the like, or may be an input to select the target value from a number of candidate values prepared in advance. Also, the target value does not have to be a single value, and multiple values can be set. Furthermore, the input value may be set as a reference value for the target value, and all integer multiples of this reference value may be set as target values.

The ball holding adjustment unit 17d is a processing unit that compares the ball holding value with a target value and adjusts the value of the ball holding value. Specifically, the ball holding adjustment unit 17d starts the "perfect ball holding mode" based on the player's operation, and causes the target value setting unit 17c to set the target value.

Once the target value is set, the held ball adjustment unit 17d judges whether the held balls are larger or smaller than the target value, and performs processing according to the result of the judgment. The held balls used in this judgment are the held balls of the own rate indicated in the card data 16b. The target value used in the judgment is the target value indicated in the target value data 16c.

When the held balls exceed the target value, the held ball adjustment unit 17d transfers the excess held balls to the playable number. In other words, the held ball adjustment unit 17d automatically executes a held ball replay of an irregular number of balls. When a player performs a held ball replay operation, a predetermined number of held balls is transferred to the playable number, but when the held balls replay is performed by the held ball adjustment unit 17d, the number of held balls to be replayed is "held balls - target value."

In addition, if the number of held balls does not reach the target value, the held ball adjustment unit 17d waits until the counting process is performed. Alternatively, it issues a notification to prompt the counting process. Then, if the number of held balls exceeds the target value as a result of the counting process, it transfers the excess held balls to the playable number.

When the number of balls held matches the target value, the ball holding adjustment unit 17d notifies the player of this fact. The player who receives the notification can obtain a card associated with the set number of balls specified by the player by performing a card return operation.

The ball holding adjustment unit 17d ends the "perfect ball holding mode" when the card is returned. It also ends the "perfect ball holding mode" when a cancellation operation is received. In addition, the "perfect ball holding mode" can be configured to end when the number of balls held matches the target value.

When the "perfect ball holding mode" is ended, the ball holding adjustment unit 17d erases the target value in the card data 16b. Alternatively, a target value setting flag indicating "valid" or "invalid" may be set for the target value, and when the "perfect ball holding mode" is ended, the target value setting flag may be set to "invalid." In this configuration, the target value is retained even after the "perfect ball holding mode" is ended, and can be used as a candidate for the target value to be used in the next or subsequent "perfect ball holding mode."

Next, the internal configuration of the gaming machine 20 will be described. The gaming machine 20 has a communication control unit 24, a presentation control unit 25, a game control unit 26, and a game ball control unit 27. The communication control unit 24 is a control unit for controlling data communication with the inter-machine card processing machine 10. Communication with the inter-machine card processing machine 10 may be performed using encrypted communication using a specified encryption method.

When the gaming machine 20 is started, the communication control unit 24 reads the identification information from the control CPU provided in the gaming control unit 26 and/or gaming ball control unit 27, checks whether the identification information is appropriate, and if it is appropriate, establishes communication with the inter-machine card processing machine 10 and goes into standby mode. In the standby mode, if operation permission is received from the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the performance control unit 25, gaming control unit 26, and gaming ball control unit 27 are started, and the gaming machine is made ready for play.

The game control unit 26 is a control unit that controls the game by the game machine 20. Specifically, the game control unit 26 controls the launch of game balls onto the game board by detecting the handle operation, detects game balls that have entered the winning hole on the game board, obtains random numbers (random numbers from 0 to 65535, with numbers assigned to big wins, small wins, and losses for each predetermined range) and draws lots (special and normal symbols), controls movable members (tulips, etc.) on the game board, controls the display of a special symbol display device on the game board, detects abnormalities that may be fraudulent (front frame is open, vibration is detected, etc.) and notifies a higher-level device, etc.

A large number of obstacle pins are set on the game board, and game balls that are launched onto the game board by operating the handle fall between the obstacle pins and either enter a prize hole or a starting hole, or are ejected from the game board through an outlet hole on the game board without entering a prize. When a game ball enters a starting hole, a lottery is held, and if a jackpot is awarded, a jackpot game is played in which a specific prize hole on the game board is controlled to be open multiple times, and by making it easier for game balls to enter these prize holes, prize balls are awarded to the player.

In addition, there is a special jackpot game that gives the player a special bonus game after the jackpot game ends. The special jackpot game includes a probability-varying jackpot and a time-saving jackpot. The probability-varying jackpot and the time-saving jackpot give the probability-varying game and the time-saving game as bonus games after the jackpot, respectively. The time-saving game is a bonus game that increases the number of lotteries per unit time by shortening the fluctuation time (the time from the start of the lottery process to the display of the result) of the normal pattern lottery (the lottery for opening and closing the movable member described above) and/or the special pattern lottery (the jackpot lottery by the winning of the game ball described above), thereby increasing the probability of winning the jackpot per unit time. This bonus game may include a normal pattern probability fluctuation that increases the probability of winning the normal pattern. The time-saving game due to the time-saving jackpot ends when the number of lotteries for the special pattern lottery has been held a specified number of times after the jackpot. We'll discuss probability-varying games later.

The game control unit 26 has a probability fluctuation function. The probability fluctuation function is a function that controls the change of the random number range of the jackpot used in the next lottery (generally to about 10 times) when the lottery result is a jackpot that falls within a particularly specified random number range. The probability fluctuation game is a game in which a special pattern is drawn using this changed probability. The probability fluctuation game continues until the next jackpot is won. In addition, the probability fluctuation game and the time-saving game may be granted at the same time. However, in order to prevent unexpected losses to the gaming facility, if a player acquires a certain number of game media after the probability fluctuation game or the time-saving game has started, a process of stopping the game (removing the card once and requesting a prize exchange or a machine move) may be performed. In this case, the number of game media acquired after the probability fluctuation game state is entered is counted by the gaming machine 20, and when this count value reaches a predetermined value, game stop control such as stopping the release of game balls is performed.

The performance control unit 25 is a control unit that controls the performance during play, and has a performance symbol lottery unit 25a and a performance lottery unit 25b. The performance symbol lottery unit 25a performs lottery (specifically, whether or not to stop the display at 7, 7, 7) for performance symbols (symbols to be displayed on a performance symbol display device such as a display device on the game board) based on the special symbol lottery in the game control unit 26.

The effect selection unit 25b selects the type of effect to be performed before the result of the selection based on the effect pattern is displayed (such as a character appearing to perform a reach effect). Such effects are set so that the effect selected differs depending on the main selection result.

The performance control unit 25 stores performance data for each performance. Furthermore, the performance control unit 25 controls the display of the performance pattern display device, and when a performance is executed, the performance data is superimposed on the background pattern data to display the performance. Furthermore, when the probability fluctuates, background color data different from the normal state is set.

The game ball control unit 27 is a control unit that controls the playable number. Specifically, the game ball control unit 27 stores the playable number in the playable number memory 27a, subtracts "1" from the playable number each time a game ball is released, and adds the number of prize balls awarded upon winning to the playable number. When the number of balls is notified by the inter-machine card processing machine 10, the game ball control unit 27 adds the notified number of balls to the playable number stored in the playable number memory 27a, and transmits a confirmation signal to the inter-machine card processing machine 10 indicating that the number has been added to the playable number. The game ball control unit 27 can also perform cleaning control of the game balls (circulating balls) enclosed in the game machine 20.

The game ball control unit 27 also periodically transmits the playable number stored in the playable number memory 27a to the inter-machine card processing machine 10. In this case, the game ball control unit 27 continues to update the playable number according to the game status without clearing the contents of the playable number memory 27a to zero, and transmits the playable number at the time of data acquisition to the inter-machine card processing machine 10.

The gaming machine 20 is also provided with a counting button 23, and a signal indicating that the counting button 23 has been pressed is input to the gaming ball control unit 27. The gaming ball control unit 27 detects the pressing of the counting button 23, and if the time from the rising edge to the falling edge of the detection signal is less than a certain time, it transmits a management transfer request to the inter-machine card processing machine 10 together with data on the number of playable balls at a certain number (for example, 100 balls per operation). Then, it subtracts (invalidates) the number of balls transferred to the management of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 from the number of playable balls. Also, if it detects the pressing of the counting button 23 and the falling edge of the detection signal is not detected for a predetermined time or more after the detection signal rises, it transmits a management transfer request to the inter-machine card processing machine 10 together with data on the number of playable balls at a certain number (for example, 200 balls per 5 seconds) each time the detection signal rises for a certain time. Then, it subtracts (invalidates) the number of balls transferred to the management of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 from the number of playable balls. When subtracting from the playable number, possible methods include decrementing the value to be subtracted from the value of 1 stored in memory, or updating the value stored in memory with the value after the subtraction and deleting or logically deleting the value before the subtraction to invalidate it, but there are no particular limitations as long as the value after the subtraction is identifiable.

The game control unit 26 and the game ball control unit 27 are each configured on a separate board. The game control board on which the game control unit 26 is configured and the game ball control board on which the game ball control unit 27 is configured each have their own unique ID. The gaming machine 20 combines the ID of the game control board and the ID of the game ball control board and uses this as the gaming machine ID.

Next, an example of data stored in the memory unit 16 of the inter-machine card processing machine 10 will be described. Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of data stored in the memory unit 16 of the inter-machine card processing machine 10.

The own device status data 16a shown in FIG. 5(a) indicates that the device ID of the inter-machine card processing device 10 is "3001" and "Ball 3" is set as the game type of the inter-machine card processing device 10.

Card data 16b shown in FIG. 5(b) indicates that the ID of the card inserted into the inter-machine card processing machine 10 is "2002". Note that here, the first digit of the card ID indicates the type of card, with a card with the first digit "1" being a general card and a card with the first digit "2" being a membership card. Card data 16b also indicates that the prepaid value is "2000 points". Note that here, 1 point of the prepaid value is equivalent to 1 yen. Card data 16b also indicates that the number of balls held by ball 1 is "0", the number of balls held by ball 2 is "0", the number of balls held by ball 3 is "875", and the number of balls held by ball 4 is "500".

Also, the card data 16b shows that the pin number for replaying saved balls is "7777", the number of possible replays of saved balls is "1", the number of saved balls for ball 1 is "250", the number of saved balls for ball 2 is "0", the number of saved balls for ball 3 is "50", and the number of saved balls for ball 4 is "0". Although not shown, the card management device 40 also stores the ON/OFF status of a "lock" flag indicating whether the card is valid or invalid, in addition to the balls held, saved balls, and prepaid value, in association with the card ID, and this is turned ON by an employee if the card is discovered to be stolen. These data are also included and stored in the card data 16b. Furthermore, this "lock" flag can be set for each function (such as "use saved balls", "enter", etc.), and for example, at the request of the player, only the "enter" function can be "locked" to prevent erroneous operation.

The target value data 16c shown in FIG. 5(c) is data that associates the target value of the held balls set by the target value setting unit 17c with the target value setting flag. FIG. 5(c) shows a state in which the target value is "500" and the target value setting flag is "enabled."

Next, the processing procedure of the perfect ball holding mode by the inter-machine card processing machine 10 will be described. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the perfect ball holding mode by the inter-machine card processing machine 10. First, when a predetermined operation (e.g., operation of the "perfect ball holding" button) is received, the ball holding adjustment unit 17d starts the "perfect ball holding mode" (step S101).

Then, the target value setting unit 17c displays a screen for inputting the target value on the display operation unit 13, and sets the target value based on the player's input (step S102). The set target value is stored in the memory unit 16 as target value data 16c.

The target value setting unit 17c performs a ball holding determination process to determine whether the number of balls held is greater than the target value (step S103). If the result of the ball holding determination process is that the number of balls held is greater than the target value (step S104; Yes), the ball holding adjustment unit 17d transfers the excess balls held to the playable number by a ball holding payout process (step S105). This ball holding payout process causes the number of balls held to match the target value.

If the number of held balls is equal to or less than the target value (step S104; No), the held ball adjustment unit 17d determines whether the held balls are less than the target value (step S106). Here, if the held balls are not less than the target value, the held balls and the target value match.

If the number of held balls is not less than the target value but matches the target value (step S106; No), or after the number of held balls matches the target value due to the excess held ball payout process in step S105, the held ball adjustment unit 17d notifies the user that the held balls match the target value (step S108). Then, it is determined whether or not a return operation has been accepted (step S109), and if a return operation has been accepted (step S109; Yes), the held balls are associated with a card and the card is returned (step S110).

If the number of balls held is less than the target value (step S106; Yes), a notification is issued to prompt the user to perform counting processing (step S107).

After step S107, or if the card return operation has not been accepted (step S109; No), the held ball adjustment unit 17d judges whether or not a release operation has been accepted (step S112). If the release operation has not been accepted (step S112; No), the held ball adjustment unit 17d proceeds to step S103 and performs held ball determination processing. This is because if the number of held balls changes due to counting processing or the like, the result of the held ball determination processing may differ from the previous time.

If the card is returned or a cancellation operation is received in step S110 (step S112; Yes), the ball holding adjustment unit 17d cancels the "perfect ball holding mode" (step S111) and ends the process. Note that when the "perfect ball holding mode" is cancelled, the ball holding adjustment unit 17d erases the target value in the card data 16b or sets the target value setting flag to "invalid."

Next, a specific example of the operation of the perfect ball holding mode will be described. Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example of the operation of the perfect ball holding mode. Figure 7(a) is a specific example of a menu screen that the inter-machine card processing machine 10 displays on the display operation unit 13. On this menu screen, a "Member information" button, a "Ball holding information" button, a "Ball holding division" button, a "Perfect ball holding" button, and a "Back" button are displayed.

The "Member Information" button is an operation button for displaying information about the member managed by the gaming establishment when the player is a registered member of the gaming establishment. The "Ball Information" button is an operation button for displaying information about the balls currently in possession. The "Ball Split" button is an operation button for splitting the balls in possession into multiple cards and associating them. The "Back" button is an operation button for returning to the previous display screen.

The "Perfect Ball Holding" button is an operation button for starting the perfect ball holding mode. When an operation on the "Perfect Ball Holding" button is accepted, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 starts the "Perfect Ball Holding Mode" and accepts an input specifying the target number of balls held, as shown in FIG. 7(b). In FIG. 7(b), number buttons, a cancel button, and a confirm button are displayed, and the state in which 500 balls has been set as the target number by operating these buttons is shown.

When the target value is set, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 determines whether the number of balls held is greater than the target value and performs processing according to the determination result.

If the number of held balls is greater than the target value, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 executes a held ball payout process to transfer the excess held balls to the playable number. At this time, the display operation unit 13 displays an indication that the held balls are being paid out, as shown in FIG. 7(c1). In FIG. 7(c1), the display shows "Payout in progress 250/1500". Then, when the payout is completed, the held balls will match the target value.

If the balls held match the target value, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 notifies the user as shown in FIG. 7(c2). In FIG. 7(c2), the message "The balls held have reached the target value" is displayed. The balls held and the target value are also displayed, along with a cancel button. In FIG. 7(c2), both the balls held and the target value are "500". When the cancel button is operated, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 cancels the exact ball holding mode and returns to the standby screen. When a card return operation is performed, the balls held that are now equal to the target value are associated with the card, the card is returned, and the exact ball holding mode is cancelled.

If the number of balls held does not reach the target value, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 issues a notification to prompt the user to perform counting, as shown in FIG. 7(c3). In FIG. 7(c3), the message "Please count the shortfall" is displayed. The number of balls held and the target value are also displayed, along with a cancel button. In FIG. 7(c3), the number of balls held is "400" and the target value is "500". If the cancel button is operated, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 cancels the exact ball holding mode and returns to the standby screen. Also, if a counting operation is performed, the number of balls held is added, so the system again judges whether the number of balls held is greater than or less than the target value, and performs processing according to the result of the judgment.

So far, we have explained how the number of balls held is adjusted to the number desired by the player, but it is also possible to adjust the saved balls to the number desired by the player. It can also be combined with an automatic payout that automatically transfers the held or saved balls to the number available for play when the number of playable balls falls below a specified number.

Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram of the adjustment of stored balls and automatic payout. Figure 8(a) shows the setting of automatic payout. First, when the "Automatic Payout" button is pressed on the menu displayed on the display operation unit 13, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts the selection of "held balls" or "saved balls". If held balls are selected, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 automatically pays out balls at its own rate. On the other hand, if saved balls are selected, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts the setting of the rate to be used for automatic payout, and automatically pays out balls at the set rate. In Figure 8(a), "4 yen" is selected out of "4 yen", "2 yen", and "1 yen", so automatic payout will be made from saved balls at this rate.

Figure 8(b) is an explanatory diagram of the adjustment of stored balls. Figure 8(b) shows the state in which the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts the selection of "Perfect Ball Setting" from the menu displayed on the display operation unit 13, and sets the number of balls to be left for each rate of stored balls. Specifically, the settings are set to leave 1,000 4-yen balls and 2,000 2-yen balls, and the number of balls to be left for 1-yen balls has not been set.

As shown in FIG. 8(c), when the number of saved balls set for automatic payout reaches the set number, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 accepts the selection of the rate to be used for the next automatic payout. In FIG. 8(c), a message is displayed stating "There are 1000 4 yen saved balls remaining. Please select the rate to be used next.", and either 2 yen saved balls or 1 yen saved balls can be selected.

In this way, by adjusting the automatic payout, held balls, and saved balls, convenience for players can be improved. Note that in FIG. 8, a confirmation screen is displayed after the number of saved balls reaches the number set by automatic payout, but the order in which saved balls are used may be set in advance, and the saved balls to be used may be automatically switched. It may also be possible to switch between held balls and saved balls as the target for automatic payout.

As described above, in this embodiment, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 is installed in correspondence with the enclosed gaming machine 20, stores the game balls acquired by the player through play as held balls, sets a target value for the held balls, and if the held balls exceed the target value, the excess held balls can be transferred to the number of playable balls of the gaming machine 20. Therefore, the player can adjust the held balls to the desired value simply by setting the desired target value.

In addition, regardless of the time when the target value is set, if the number of balls held exceeds the target value as a result of counting, the excess number of balls held can be transferred to the number of balls available for play on the gaming machine 20. Therefore, if the number of balls held does not reach the target value, the inter-machine card processing machine 10 waits until the counting process is performed. Alternatively, it issues a notification to prompt the counting process.

The inter-machine card processing machine 10 also cancels the target value setting when it receives a specified cancellation operation or when it associates the held balls with a card and ejects them. It is also possible to cancel the target value setting when the held balls match the target value.

In this embodiment, when the counting process is performed, the number of held balls increases until it exceeds the target value, and then the excess is returned to the playable number by the held ball payout process. However, the counting process may be stopped when the number of held balls reaches the target value.

In addition, in this embodiment, the target value is specified as a numerical value, but it may be possible to select from a list of target value candidates. The target value candidates may be determined based on the usage history of the player, or may be values that are easy to use for exchanging for prizes.

In addition, in the above embodiment, detailed explanation of the form of the card, which is the medium to which the number of game media is associated, is omitted, but such cards include magnetic cards, IC cards, etc. Also, for the sake of convenience, a "card" has been used as an example here, but the present invention can also be applied when using chips, sticks, mobile terminals, etc. in addition to cards.

In addition, each configuration shown in the figure is a functional schematic, and does not necessarily have to be physically configured as shown. In other words, the form of distribution and integration of each device is not limited to that shown in the figure, and all or part of it can be functionally or physically distributed and integrated in any unit depending on various loads, usage conditions, etc.

As described above, each machine and the method for managing the number of gaming media according to the present invention are suitable for adjusting the number of gaming media held to the desired value by a player with simple operations.

10 Inter-machine card processing device 11 Status display unit 12 Bill transport unit 12a Bill insertion slot 13, 22 Display operation unit 14 Reader/writer 14a Card insertion slot 14b Hold unit 15 Communication unit 16 Memory unit 16a Machine status data 16b Card data 16c Target value data 17 Control unit 17a Data management unit 17b Game setting processing unit 17c Target value setting unit 17d Ball holding adjustment unit 18 Game management unit 18a Authentication processing unit 18b Authentication key management unit 18c Gaming machine status management unit 20 Gaming machine 21 Handle 23 Counting button 24 Communication control unit 25 Performance control unit 25a Performance pattern lottery unit 25b Performance lottery unit 26 Game control unit 27 Game ball control unit 27a Playable number memory 30 Island controller 40 Card management device 50 Member management device 60 Prize management device 80 Payment machine

Claims (7)

Each machine device is installed in association with a gaming machine that uses a gaming medium enclosed therein to play a game, and performs processing related to the gaming medium ,
a owned game media number storage unit that stores the number of game media acquired by a player through a game as the owned game media number;
A target value setting unit that sets a target value for the number of game media held;
a first transfer processing unit which transfers a predetermined number of possessed gaming media among the possessed gaming media stored in the possessed gaming media number storage unit to the possessed gaming machine managed media number when the target value is not set or when the number of possessed gaming media stored in the gaming machine falls below a predetermined value;
Each machine device is characterized in that it is equipped with a second transition processing unit that, when the target value is set, if the number of owned gaming media stored in the owned gaming media number memory unit exceeds the target value, transitions the number of owned gaming media that is the difference between the number of owned gaming media and the target value to the number of gaming machine managed media without requiring a replay operation of the number of owned gaming media. The second transition processing unit is
Each machine device as described in claim 1, characterized in that when the number of held gaming media exceeds the target value as a result of a counting process for transferring the number of held gaming media to the number of held gaming media, the number of held gaming media that is the difference between the number of held gaming media and the target value is transferred to the number of held gaming media managed by the gaming machine. The second transition processing unit is
2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the number of owned gaming media stored in the owned gaming media number storage unit does not reach the target value, the apparatus waits until a counting process is performed. The second transition processing unit is
4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a notification for prompting the player to perform the counting process when the number of owned gaming media stored in the owned gaming media number storage unit is less than the target value. The second transition processing unit is
Each machine device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the setting of the target value is cancelled when a specified cancellation operation is received or when the number of held gaming media is associated with a specified storage medium and ejected. The second transition processing unit is
Each machine device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that when the number of held gaming media stored in the held gaming media number memory unit matches the target value, the setting of the target value is cancelled. A method for managing the number of game media by each machine device that is installed in association with a game machine that uses a game medium enclosed therein and performs processing related to the game medium , comprising:
a owned game media number storage step of storing the number of game media acquired by the player through the game in a owned game media number storage unit as the owned game media number;
a target value setting step of setting a target value for the number of game media held;
a transfer processing step of transferring a predetermined number of held gaming media stored in the held gaming media number memory unit to the gaming machine managed media number when the target value is not set or when the number of held gaming media stored in the gaming machine falls below a predetermined value, and transferring a number of held gaming media that is the difference between the number of held gaming media and the target value to the gaming machine managed media number when the target value is set and if the number of held gaming media stored in the held gaming media number memory unit exceeds the target value , without replaying the number of held gaming media.

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